Pediatrician and Vaccination Questions

I love my pediatrician in Johns Creek. Her name is Dr. Penny Forman. I can't tell you her views on vaccination because my kids had had all their shots by the time we moved here. About the safety of vaccinations, I peronally don't know anyone who has had a child that has had any ill effects from getting vaccines. I personally feel every child should be vaccinated. Look at infant and child mortality rates before we had vaccinations. Most families lost at least one child to diseases that are now preventable.

Hi K.,

You asked for three things: How to get information, our personal stories, and a pediatrician. Sorry this is so long, but hopefully I can give you a little of all three.

1) Reading /Information
a. There is a fabulous compilation of articles examining what studies have been done, what studies have not been done, and what the concerns are of many credentialed doctors, scientists, researchers and many more parents who are using science to recover their children from harm. This can be ordered for $8 from www.mothering.com/shop and entitled "Vaccines: Still the issue of our time".
b. Dr. Bernadette Healy, former director of the NIH wrote this and spoke on several media outlets regarding the NIH's failure to protect subgroups of children that are at risk for immune related failures (autism, diabetes, etc) http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavi...
c. What your doctor may not tell you about vaccines, Stephanie Cave, MD
d. www.generationrescue.com - fabulous compilation
e. www.ageofautism.org - very educated and well researched blog
f. www.theeducatedparent.blogspot.com - has links to many more books and references as well as personal stories and what evidence parents have to support their concerns.
g. Evidence of Harm, David Kirby

2) My story (and my children's stories)
My son was born incredibly healthy, met or exceeded all milestones, gained very mild sensory sensitivity after his first birthday, but still seemed ok. Within 1 month of his 5th birthday (and his chicken pox and MMR), he stopped sleeping and within 6 months, regressed deeply into his own world rocking and moaning. It was the worst agony I have ever known.

As I expressed to my pediatrician, I would nurse my child through the measles a hundred times to have avoided the regression into autism and the journey it required to recover my son. I don't have false hopes or blames, I have more test results (which costs us everything we had for 3.5 years) to show the correlation between viral and metal overloads, immune failure, regression into autism and now a beautiful recovery. I am very blessed to get my son back, but many, many are not so fortunate. One only has to look at what has happened to serious immune related diseases for the last 2 decades to realize it correlates perfectly with a schedule that went from 10 vaccines to 36 under the age of two and the change in multifactoral diseases on astronomical increase. Of course, there is a genetic component, but the problem is that the CDC will not study the subgroups to find out who the suseptable ones are (i.e. article by Bernadette Healy will describe). Each parent is left with the choice of playing russian ruelette instead of using sound medical science.

There are many alternatives to the schedule, which has NEVER been tested in its entirety on any creature except the last 2.5 decades of our children. One does not have to look far to realize the health of our children as a whole is at serious risk. Any denying that is simply denial. Japan, with a very low autism rate, waits until the immune is complete at the age of two. Many parents are altering the schedule and slowing it down and/or considering the need for particular vaccines. Any parent who is bringing a child into this world needs to realize the awesomeness of responsibility to know what is in that vial. It could alter the ability of that child for a lifetime. And for what, when you can make changes to safely protect your child, why blindly follow a schedule that has never been tested? Hilary may blame parents like me for a measles outbreak which cost 2 lives, but I would question if she has walked a year or two or three in my shoes - learning, digging, recovering a child lost in his own madness with real science, not the science given by the CDC that can be shot to heck with holes. Those two lives lost are meager compared to the 1 out of 72 boys who will never fully function and support themselves in our society. If the CDC and NIH would do their jobs and make the vaccines safe, we could protect those 2 and not sacrifice the million.

3) Pediatricians: The AAP has as a whole turned its nose from science on this issue and the subgroup of children that have severe reactions (not necessarily immediate). They love the kids, but they won't read the science. The law requires that parents be given medical choices for their children and most Pediatricians will respect that (if the parent is educated and is not flippant about their choices). See vaclib.org for waiver info. The parent should not look for support, only deferral to the parent with regard to this issue. I only know of a wonderful Osteopath in Suwannee named Dr. Richard Armond (on Lawrenceville-Suwannee Rd) who may be able to refer to a good pediatrician. I find that parents have to find a typical ped, and use more natural or alternative doctors to care for the child in less emergency situations (colds, etc). Osteopaths are wonderful providers of care from as early as 1 day old, but you need a pediatrician for emergency situations and for general care with regard to milestones, etc. Smart, educated parents have better chances for a healthy child. My pediatrician respects my decision, is kind and supportive, even though he disagrees. I think that is the best I can do with the stand the AAP is taking against doing the studies and even against reading the studies that have been done.

I wish for your friend a healthy baby and I wish even more that she is vigilant in protecting their health by being fully informed. She has a good friend in you to be looking out for her.

J.

Please tell your friend not to be swayed by celebrities who spread myths and misinformation about vaccines. All the scientific and medical evidence suggests that vaccines are very safe. The recent outbreak of measles, which can be deadly (and was due to parents not vaccinating their children) is what should scare people.

I believe that The Vaccine Book by William Sears is a great resource. If you are an active reader(an analytical reader) if will give you the info u need to make an informed choice. However if you are a passive reader it may not be as beneficial, but still a good resource.

Hi. I have 2 boys 6 & 3. I vaccinated my 6 year old and partially vaccinated my 3 year old. It is purely a personal decision. I am now fully against vaccinating MY children. I do not vaccinate my children any longer. I have not had any problem with the schools either. The reason I quit vaccinating my 3 year old was because every single time he would get a vaccine within 2 days he would get an upper respiratory infection and then an ear infection. You can't possible tell me that that is a coincidence. The poor child had 9 ear infections in less than 12 months. We eventually had to have tubes put into his ears. I believe all of the infections were a COMBINATION of the vaccination and going to daycare at six weeks (my oldest didn't start daycare until 12weeks). My 3 year has been much much healthier since we quit vaccinating. I truly believe FOR HIM it was the right decision. Now, that being said, my oldest child had no reactions whatsoever and fully vaccinated up to the age of 5. So, my advice to any mother is to listen to your heart as a mother and do your own research. DO NOT be bullied by anyone including the doctors (and they will)or husbands or other parents and family. If you DO NOT feel confident in something, then say NO, until you can do your own research on it. NO ONE can FORCE you to vaccinate your child. MY husband gave me a very hard time about not getting my baby his shots until he read what I was reading about the possible effects.

I wish you the best of luck finding a physician in your area.

Of course no one can force you to vaccinate your child, however, the day care center and church that I have been taking my toddler to require that all vaccinations be up to date.

If your friend decides to vaccinate - I have heard that you can find physicians that will stagger out the vaccinations which may be healthier for the child (as opposed to a typical shot which includes many vaccinations).

I am in search of a physician to do this because my daughter has also gotten very ill each time she has had a vaccination (high fever, throwing up, and upper respiratory infections). If any one knows of a physician in the Norcross / Alpharetta / Dunwoody arear, I would really appreciate it.

Thank You